DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS, AND LIQUIDITY | NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS, AND LIQUIDITY Clean Energy Special Situations Corp. (the “Company”), formerly known as Springwater Special Situations Corp. (see Note 9), is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware company on October 2, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”). The Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from October 2, 2020 (inception) through June 30, 2023 relates to the Company’s formation, the initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described below, and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering seeking to identify a target company for a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on August 25, 2021. On August 30, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 15,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of common stock included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $150,000,000, which is described in Note 3. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 645,000 units (the “Private Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit in a private placement to Springwater Promote LLC (the “Sponsor”) and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., the representative of the underwriters in the Initial Public Offering, generating gross proceeds of $6,450,000, which is described in Note 4. On September 3, 2021, the underwriters notified the Company of their intention to partially exercise their over-allotment option and would forfeit the remaining balance. On September 7, 2021, the Company consummated the sale of an additional 2,118,624 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, and the sale of an additional 63,559 Private Placement Units, at $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $21,821,830. A total of $21,398,105 was deposited into the Trust Account, bringing the aggregate gross proceeds held in the Trust Account to $172,898,105. Transaction costs amounted to $18,538,231 consisting of $3,423,725 of underwriting fees, $13,783,973 for the excess fair value of the Founder Shares (as defined in Note 6) attributable to the Anchor Investors (see Note 5), $880,485 for the excess fair value of the EBC Founder Shares (see Note 6) and $450,048 of other offering costs. The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. The stock exchange listing rules require that the Business Combination must be with one or more businesses or entities with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (less taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) as of the date of the definitive agreement for such Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. The Company will provide the holders of the Public Shares (the “Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of the Business Combination, either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes paid and payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public shares, subject to certain limitations as described in the prospectus. Additionally, each Public Stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares, without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed Business Combination. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants or Rights (defined below). If a stockholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the holders of the Founder Shares have agreed to vote such Founder Shares, shares included in the Private Placement Units and any Public Shares they hold in favor of approving a Business Combination. The holders of the Founder Shares have agreed (a) to waive redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares and any Public Shares held by them in connection with the completion of a Business Combination, (b) to waive liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the time period required by the Certificate of Incorporation and (c) not to propose an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemptions in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below) or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, unless the Company provides the Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment. However, if the such holders acquires Public Shares, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The Company currently has until November 28, 2023 with the ability to further extend such date up to six times by one month each (so a maximum of through May 28, 2024) (see Note 9), to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). If the Company has not completed a Business Combination within the Combination Period and such time period is not extended by stockholders, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants or Rights, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. On February 27, 2023, the Company held a special meeting of its stockholders to consider a proposal, among others, to extend the date the Company had to consummate an initial business combination from February 28, 2023 to August 28, 2023. Stockholders approved the proposals and in connection therewith, holders of an aggregate of 15,142,910 Public Shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for an aggregate of $155,904,552 in cash. In connection with the special meeting, the Company’s board of directors approved a dividend of rights (“Rights”) to holders of Public Shares who did not seek redemption of their Public Shares in connection with the stockholder vote in connection with the extension. Each Right will entitle the holder to receive one-twelve-and-a-half (1/12.5) of a share of common stock upon consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. The Company issued 1,975,714 Rights entitling the holders to receive an aggregate of up to 158,057 shares of common stock. Under ASC 505-20-30-3 (Rights Agreement Memorandum) this was accounted for as a Deemed Dividend. Because the dividend is expected to be paid within one year of the declaration date, the “Deemed dividend” payable will be classified as a current liability. The Deemed Dividend Liability was recorded at the fair value on the declaration date on March 2, 2023. The fair value of the shares on March 2, 2023 was $0.11, which was determined using market approach methodology and the key inputs to the method are summarized below. Stock Price as of Measurement Date $ 10.27 Probability of Acquisition 13.9 % The holders of the Founder Shares have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if they acquire Public Shares, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Initial Public Offering price per Unit. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.10 per public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to monies held in the Trust Account nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except for the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account. Effective May 15, 2023, each of Alexander Hamilton and Hans Brandl resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors. Such individuals’ resignations were not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices. Additionally, effective May 15, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed Candice Beaumont, Nicholas Parker, Raghunath Kilambi and Greg A. Nuttall to the Board of Directors. Risks and Uncertainties In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic which continues to spread throughout the United States and the world. As of the date the condensed financial statement was issued, there was considerable uncertainty around the expected duration of this pandemic. The Company has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that COVID-19 could have a negative effect on identifying a target company for a Business Combination, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of this condensed financial statement. The condensed financial statement does not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax. On February 27, 2023, the Company’s stockholders redeemed 15,142,910 shares for a total of $155,904,552. The Company evaluated the classification and accounting of the stock redemption under ASC 450, “Contingencies”. ASC 450 states that when a loss contingency exists the likelihood that the future event will confirm the loss or impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability can range from probable to remote. A contingent liability must be reviewed at each reporting period to determine appropriate treatment. The Company evaluated the current status and probability of completing a Business Combination as of June 30, 2023 and concluded that it is probable that a contingent liability should be recorded. As of June 30, 2023, the Company recorded $1,559,046 of excise tax liability calculated as 1% of the shares redeemed in connection with the extension of time to consummate an initial Business Combination effectuated in February 2023 referred to above. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, an additional number of shares were redeemed in connection with the extension of time to consummate an initial Business Combination to November 28, 2023 with the ability to further extend such date up to six times by one month each (so a maximum of through May 28, 2024) effectuated on August 28, 2023 (see Note 9). As indicated below, there is no assurance that this will be the actual amount of tax that the Company will be required to pay. Any redemption or other repurchase in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the Business Combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a Business Combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with a Business Combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a Business Combination but issued within the same taxable year of a Business Combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. As a result, the above-referenced excise tax liability recorded as of June 30, 2023 may be more or less than such amount depending on factors that occurred after such date (see Note 9) and in the future. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a Business Combination and in the Company’s ability to complete a Business Combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company has agreed that the per share price payable to stockholders exercising their redemption rights, whether in connection with the vote on an extension or an initial Business Combination, will not be reduced by payments required to be made by the Company under the IR Act. Liquidity and Going Concern As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $26,187 in its operating bank account and working capital deficit of $2,373,184. If the estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to a Business Combination. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing or draw on the Working Capital Loans (as defined below) either to complete a Business Combination or because it becomes obligated to redeem a significant number of the Public Shares upon consummation of a Business Combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, the Company would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete the Business Combination because it does not have sufficient funds available, the Company will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. In addition, following the Business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, the Company may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet its obligations. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB’s”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that if the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination by November 28, 2023 with the ability to further extend such date up to six times by one month each (so a maximum of through May 28, 2024) (see Note 9) and such date is not extended by stockholders, then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern,” management has determined that the liquidity conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through approximately one year from the date these financial statements are issued. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. |